Humane trap



arch S, 1938. R. .1. y.lol-iNsON 2,110J56 HUMANE TRAP Filed Sept. l0, 1936 Quo@ may) Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES iidi PATENT FFCE HUMANE TRAP Richard J. Johnson, Langdon,

IVIinn.

Application `September 10, 1936, Serial No. 100,199

designed primanly for setting in burrows or may be easily become accidentally caught.

A still further object is to provide a trap from which the actuating spring is readily detachable so that it may be carried separately from the trap if desired.

Another object is to provide new and improved releasing mechanism including an upstanding trigger between downwardly and inwardly swingable jaws against which the animal kpushes with his chest, insuring that the head shall be sufciently far advanced at the time of springing the trap, to allow the jaws to close around the neck.

Yet another aim is to provide a novel base for the trap cooperable with the spring in supporting it in any desired position in readiness for the catch.

With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a perspective VView showing the trap set.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l but looking in the opposite direction. Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking in the d1rection as Fig. 1 and showing the trap in trapping position.

Preferred features of shown for illustrative wardly and longitudinally extending nger 6 to engage the ground and assist in properly supporting the trap. Pivoted against one side of the bar 5, at the end thereof 6, is an abutment 'I to at 9 to said bar 5. A link plate YII) preferably lies against the bar by a rivet or the like VII forming the pivot of the jaw I2, the vother jaw I3 being suitably pivoted at I4 against the side of said bar 5 engaged by the jaw I2. The jawactuating spring I5 of the conventional U-form, is provided with the usual openings cr eyes I 6, the innermost of which is engageable with the lower end portion of the jaw I2 and the outermost of which abuts the abutment 'I'he downwardly projecting lower end of this abutment, the nger 6 and the spring I5 all coact in forming a three-point support for the trap, swinging said spring to one position or the jaws I2 and I3 may be supported in advantageous plane.

Both of the jaws I2 and raised set position (Figs. trapping position (Fig. 3), and to insure proper joint movement of said jaws, they are connected by a link I1. One end of this link is pivoted at I8 to the jaw I2 above the pivot I I of the latter, and the other end of said link is pivoted at I 9 to a portion I3 of the jaw I3 projecting below the pivot I4 of said jaw I3. When the trap is set, with the jaws I2 and I3 substantially vertical, the link Il extends across the angle between jaw I2 and base bar 5 as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and when the trap is sprung, said link moves longitudinally of said base bar 5 under the influence of the downwardly and inwardly swinging jaw I2, said link then serving to force anything out of the way which might otherwise be caught between the lower end portion of the jaw I2 and the upper edge of the base bar 5. The jaw i3, when the trap is set, is inclined outwardly to some extent as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and thus the initial closing movement of this jaw, at least directly above the pivot I4, is upward and inward as indicated by the arrow A of Fig. 2, the result being that the jaw will throw off anything which might otherwise be caught between said jaw and the base bar 5 with danger of interfering with trap closing. The finger 3 extends suiiiciently downward to prevent the eX- tension I3 of the jaw I3 from striking the ground during closing of the jaws.

The jaw I 3 is provided near its pivot I4 with a lateral stud 26 and a latch arm ZI normally overiies this stud as seen in Fig. l to hold the trap set, one end of this latch arm 2I being loosely connected With the base bar 5 by a link 22 while another, the most I3 are swingable from 1 and 2) to lowered and by the other end of said latch arm is cooperable with an upstanding trigger 23 pivoted to the base bar 5 and disposed between the jaws I2 and i3. When the trap is set and the animal pushes against the trigger 23 with his chest, this trigger releases the latch arm 2l and the spring I5 immediately acts against the jaw I2, and at the same time link I'I acts upon the jaw I3, causing instantaneous downward and inward swinging of said jaws to catch the animal around the neck and instantly kill him. The jaws and the upper edge of the base bar 5 coact in forming virtually a ring which constantly decreases in size to eifeotively act upon the neck oi" the animal and insure instantaneous death. I'

The trigger 23 is preferably formed from a single piece of wire bent into the shape oi an arch, the ends of the wire being provided with eyes 24 loosely engaged with openings 25 in the base bar 5 to pivotally mount the trigger.r One leg of this arched trigger is provided with an inwardly bent C-shaped portion 25 whose upper side coacts with a slightly concave seat 21 at the free end of the latch arm 2| to hold the trap set, as seen in Fig. 1. The top or crown bar of the trigger 23 is substantially horizontal toeffectively support grass or any other camouflage which may be used, and to prevent such camouflage from sliding out of place, the ends of said top or crown bar are provided with upwardly bent lug portions 28.

The arm 2I and link 22 are preferably connected with each other by providing them with interengaged eyes 29 and 39, and in pivoting said link 22 to the base bar 5, I prefer to provide said link with a loop 3| through which the pivot 32 passes. This link 22 is preferably embraced by a loop 33 carried by the downwardly projecting portion I3 of the jaw I3, which loop prevents excessive displacement of the link 22 when the trap is sprung and assists in guiding said link to proper position when setting the trap. It will alsol be observed from Fig. l that when the trap is set, the link 22 directly underlies the loop- 33, assisting materially in holding the jaw I3 in set position. With the trap set, the latch arm 2| is confined between a portion of the jaw I3 and an upstanding lug 34 on the base bar 5, so that no matter which way the animal may push the trigger 23, said trigger will move from engagement with said latch arm, instead of merely causing said latch arm to move with said trigger.

ie jaw I2 is preferably provided with a looped outer end portion 35 through which the jaw I3 passes when the trap is sprung, and the outer end 36 of said looped portion 35 is preferably enlarged to insure entrance of the jaw I3, even if one jaw or the other should be somewhat distorted.

The trap is set vin the burrow or other opening, substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is anchored by means of the chain S, grass or other suitable camouflage being preferably used. When the animal attempts to pass the trap, he naturally raises his head over the trigger 23 and in proceeding, his chest strikesy said trigger, thereby releasing the jaws and causing them to close instantaneously about his neck, causing immediate death.

As shown in Fig. 3, the jaws do not close sufciently to allow the inner edges of said jaws to reach the upper edge of the base bar 5. This insures that the leg of a relatively small animal cannot be caught in the trap. If the leg, for instance, of a large animal should be caught be tween the jaws and the base bar 5, the animal will naturally jerk upon the trap. Such jerking causes the abutment l to swing from its normal operative position, into a position in alinement with the base bar 5, thereby releasing the outer eye oi the sp-ring I5 and consequently relieving the trap from the pressure of this spring, with the result that the animal can readily free itself. Furthermore, should the trapper become accidentally caught, he may stand upon the chain B and pull upon the arm of the spring adjacent said chain, thus swinging the abutment 'I to released position and readily freeing himself. Then too, should the trapper desire, the traps and their springs may be packed separately and the spring of any trap applied at the time of setting said trap.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made lor carrying out the objects of the invention, and it will be clear to those skilled in the art, that the trap possesses numerous advantages over other known structures. While the details disclosed are preferred, to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:-

l. A trap comprising a body, two jaws pivoted on parallel axes to said body to swing downwardly and inwardly from raised set positions to lowered trap-ping positions, spring means forI swinging said jaws to said trapping positions, and means for holding said jaws in said set positions including a releasing trigger swingable toward either side of the trap to release the jaws.

2. A trap comprising a base, two 'spring-actuated, trigger-held jaws pivoted to said base for movement from raised set positions to lowered trapping positions, and a link connecting said jaws for movement in unison, said link serving to so position one of said jaws that the portion of said one jaw directly above its pivot will initially move upward when the trap is sprung, whereby said one jaw will throw upwardly anything resting thereon which might interfere with closing of the trap, said link extending across the angle between the other jaw and the base when the trap is set and having inward movement along said base when the trap is sprung,

whereby said link will clear said base in the path of said other jaw.

3. A trap comprising a body, two jaws pivoted to said body on parallel axes to swing downwardly and inwardly from raised set positions to lowered trapping positions, one of said jaws havling a loop through which the other jaw moves when saidjaws are swung 'to said trapping positions, spring means for swinging said jaws to said trapping positions, and means for holding said jaws in said set positions including a releasing trigger.

4. A trap comprising a horizontally elongated body having a ground-engaging downward projection at one end and a downwardly and longitudinally extending ground-engaging nger near its other end, one jaw pivoted to said one end of said body, a second jaw pivoted to said other end of said body' above said ringer, said second jaw having an extension which is prevented from striking the ground by said finger, a link pivoted to said extension and pivoted to said one jaw to insure downward and inward swingingo the two jaws in unison from raised set positions to lowered trapping positions, spring means for attention is again invited swinging said jaws to said trapping positions, and means for holding said jaws in said set positions including a releasing trigger.

5. A trap comprising ger in either direction will spring the trap.

6. In a trap having a base, and simultaneously arched piece of wire being horizontal to allow the wardly bent lug portions to prevent sliding of the camouage therefrom.

9. A structure as specied in claim 6; said with said base by means suiicient force.

11. In a trap having the usual U-shaped jawoperating spring with openings in its ends rebe pulled with sufficient force.

12. A trap comprising RICHARD J. JOHNSON. 

